High Maintenance

So, packing for Alt Summit can be a bit daunting (sidenote: Sorry, I promise this is the last Alt-related post this week! And it’s a funny one!). I was stressed for a few weeks trying to decide what outfits to bring, how I’d do my hair and what shoes would go with what. Basically I was like a 14-year-old heading off to her first co-ed overnight camp. But not. That’s how I was acting. “Ahhh, will they like me? I have to look perfect! Are they going to think I’m a dork? Am I not hipster enough? AHHHHH!”

Up until the morning I left, I was listing out my options and trying to pack the perfect bag. When I left for the airport, I was pretty damn proud of myself. I packed outfits I was comfortable in and felt like “me.” I had packed way to many shoes, but I was okay with it. I was feeling chic as I stepped on to the plane in my dinner outfit (I didn’t have much time after my plane landed to get to my dinner with the team from Citizens of Humanity, so I wore that outfit during my travel day) of jeans, a striped mini-dress, and ankle boots. I went to my dinner, had a nice time, and felt fairly awesome. Someone even mentioned they couldn’t believe I was 30. Let’s just say I was pretty darn stoked.

And then….

I got back to the house where we were staying and opened my bag to get out my bathroom kit so I could brush my teeth…and lo and behold, no bathroom kit. I’d left my massive kit hanging in my bathroom at home, never to make the flight to Salt Lake. I had arrived in town with a few things in my carry on (thank god for my tight schedule and thinking I’d need a few things on hand) like make-up, a small travel size hairspray and a brush. But that was it.

Please see Exhibit A, the aforementioned bathroom kit, as I found it when I returned home…just as I’d left it.

Now, I don’t consider myself high maintenance in most instances. My beauty routine on a daily basis is pretty minimal, but it varies. My make up is usually simple, just a bit of tinted moisturizer, concealer, mascara, cream blush and lip gloss, and I’m good to go! It usually takes about five minutes total. But the hair. Oh dear lord, the hair. I have a long, thick (but also fine) main of wavy hair that is a beast to style. My saving grace has been dry shampoo, which extends my hair for up to four days between shampoos, as shampooing daily actually makes my hair greasy and flat. If I want to wear it straight, I need several products to get it there (styling lotion, glossing creme and/or smoothing oil, a round brush and hair dryer) and I need several totally different products to wear it wavy (styling tonic, curl creme, mousse and a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment). If I want to wear it up in a bun or any sort of braid I need dry shampoo and hair spray. So, let’s see…that’s ten different items. TEN! Just for my hair! Blergh!

I knew I wanted to have options at Alt, so I packed all of my hair products (plus shampoo and conditioner) for the trip. Well, I packed them in the kit and then left them behind. Not to mention other essentials like a toothbrush, deodorant, hair ties, hair pins, face wash, toothpaste…and on and on and on.

When I realized my mistake, I prepared for a self-inflicted freak out. But it never came. Maybe I was so stressed by Alt itself my brain couldn’t take anymore and just said “screw it.” No idea. But I borrowed some toothpaste, face wash and deodorant from Nicole, who also happened to have some shampoo and conditioner samples in her bag. I bought a toothbrush at the hotel gift shop. And I made it work. I attempted to blow dry my hair straight each day (as that takes less time and is easier to do without products than any of the other options), but I was definitely a bit of a grease ball.

Me, on Day 2 of the conference, looking a little greasy and flat…Nicole looking totally gorgeous…darn you Nicole!

And you know what? It was okay! I survived and maybe even learned something. I don’t need a million products and I don’t need to be perfect. I doubt anyone there was super disturbed by my lack of fancy hair (although I was looking longingly at some of the other girls with fab hairdos), in fact, I’m almost positive no one noticed. And my suitcase had so much extra room, I was able to bring home some fun surprises I picked up for the family in the hotel toy store!

I guess the moral of this dumb story is don’t over think things too much. And if you run into trouble, just buy a bunch of toys and you’ll feel much better about it!

In case anyone needs hair product advice, these are the products I use. They are Crazybananas tested and approved for unruly hair!

For Straight Locks:
– Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion
– Fekkai Glossing Creme
– Moroccan Oil or Josie Moran Argan Oil

For Wavy Locks:
– Bumble and Bumble Tonic Lotion
– Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme
– Suave Captivating Curls Mousse (oh yeah, $3.50!)

For Updo’s, Braids, Etc.:
– Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo
– Rockaholic Fun Times Flexible Hairspray